With sugarplums dancing
across fevered brows, the "New Year" proclaims the next episode, replete with
conventional good wishes for happier times. Beyond the numerical
permutation, is not hopefulness what makes any year "new"? Time
certainly takes no notice. And for the many depressed souls in my
travels, 2011 looms ominously, one year more of recession, plus one step closer
to the dreaded, enduring rightwing takeover, with all its denial, tyranny and
misrule.

- Advertisement -

I won't deny the hard times
nor looming dark spirits. Yet, are we not still gobsmacked with free
will, every Tiny Tim of us, open to frame how we embrace our futures -- whether
with teeth-bared, teeth-grinding, or teeth smiling? After all, conviction
that America hangs over an irreversible sink hole becomes a self-fulfilling
prophecy, the secular variant on End of Times. And so, to honor the
spirit of the season, it is appropriate to offset, perhaps put in context, our
sometime misread year of analyzing shortfalls, even ridiculing folly.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

- Advertisement -

Have we been critical towards
an arrogant official or two, especially W. and his fishy spawn, like that
greedier-than-thou halfwit who quit halfway through her term? Are we
guilty of snarky intonations when having to re-explain the obvious? I
am. So, let me sound an optimistic note and proclaim to the world, especially
in deference to this lameduck Congress, happy days are here again. Not alone
because DADT got killed but because bipartisanship got reborn, returned from
the dead also on taxes (but nix on the Dream Act or 9/11 responders!). And,
glory on high, Christmas remains on schedule, alongside votes on the START
Treaty.

Let's even shock this White
House, daring to yap about sanctimonious leftists, by embracing the Obama
Creed, at least momentarily: "Don't worry, be happy, trust me" -- and the
subtext: "Republicans are people, too, not just demonic
forces." Yet, how many can forgive the White House for nailing
progressives to the political cross? Finally, the dawn clears: maybe this
White House had some sort of plan all along, with caving, dodging bullets, and
abandoning principles all done to set up this wow December finish. Who
knew?

Checked off are campaign
pledges, implied and real, says the president: Bush tax rates (right, for the
middle-class!), health insurance gambits, financial regulations (when they
come), less offshore drilling, more food safety and more gay rights. But
Santa, where's our greatest Christmas wish, true homage to the Prince of Peace:
end so many needless civilian killing fields, close down two utterly failed
wars of choice, and perhaps deflect new terrorist attacks. If only Obama,
the new "comeback kid," could comeback from being permanent war president,
progressives will stop berating him as the most Republican president elected by
Democrats. Promise.

- Advertisement -

Along comes Lieberman

Plus, to celebrate dumping
that monumentally stupid bigotry against honorable gay soldiers, we'll have to
lay off bashing of ex-McCain troglodytes like Joe Lieberrrrman. Let us of
course forego more liberal sanctimony, which means, literally "feigned
righteousness." What's "feigned" about our "righteousness" when we're on target
nearly all the time? Snarky maybe, feigned never. But let even that
bide.

For a decade, Robert S. Becker's rebel-rousing essays on politics and culture analyze overall trends, messaging and frameworks, now featured author at OpEdNews, Nation of Change and RSN. He appears regularly at Dissident Voice, with credits (more...)